Guests Will Come Face-to-Face with the Piedmont Region's Most Interesting Inhabitants

Fernbank Museum of Natural History invites visitors to discover the incredible inhabitants of the Piedmont region at its inaugural Nature Fest on Saturday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This family event will take guests on a tour of the outdoors as they meet wildlife, identify wildflowers, become citizen scientists, participate in crafts and games, enjoy live music and more.

Nature Fest will feature displays, nature walks, pavilion programs and hands-on activities to inspire an appreciation for Atlanta’s vibrant environment. Atlanta Wildlife Animal Rescue Effort will discuss wild animal rescue efforts in Georgia and introduce guests to animal ambassadors, including an owl and a flying squirrel; the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will offer a closer look at snakes and box turtles; and the Chattahoochee Nature Center will be onsite with live reptiles and a nature-themed craft. Nature Fest will also give visitors a chance to meet Dora the Explorer during a special appearance. Additionally, local bluegrass trio Cave Bear Bluegrass will be playing festive tunes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and King of Pops will be offering popsicle treats for purchase.

At 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., Fernbank educators will lead a Nature Walk through WildWoods and Fernbank Forest. These hour-long guided tours are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and will give visitors a closer look at the region’s environment as they learn how to identify native wildflowers, which bloom in the forest each spring. Since Fernbank Forest – one of the largest old-growth Piedmont forests in the nation – provides a habitat to a diverse range of birds, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles, opportunities for animal sightings on the walk may arise. Before visitors embark on the tour, Fernbank encourages them to download the iNaturalist smartphone app to record their observations on the walk. Observations made in iNaturalist can contribute to biodiversity science and even help discover new species on Fernbank’s campus.

All Nature Fest activities are included with Museum admission which is $18 for adults, $17 for seniors, $16 for children ages 3-12 and free for children ages 2 and under and Museum members.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. For visitor information and tickets, visit FernbankMuseum.org.